Tick Tock the Game is Locked

I entered the unfamiliar place and looked around the expanse of the large building. The others were already gathered and enjoying refreshments and pleasant conversation. The organizer of the group looked up. Her smile was wide and friendly as she greeted me.
Her friendliness helped me calm down a little. She leaned close to my ear. "I think this is everyone. Is there anything else I need to tell them besides what is in your bio?"

"No, nothing more...thank you," I said.

The introduction sounded flowery and a little overdone in my ears. Did I actually write those words on my biography?

At times like these, there was a mental recording with words that other people had said to me throughout my life playing loudly in my head. Most of them were made by my mother.

Not all of the sound bites were negative, but I tend not to remember the positive words so much. "Just who do you think you are? If they really knew you, they wouldn't have asked you to speak to their group?"

I took a slow, deep breath to turn off the tape player that, by now had picked up speed and was threatening to drive me mad.

They were clapping. The woman nodded in my direction with a bit of panic in her eyes. She doesn't know if I am going to freak out and run out of here.

I stood behind the small podium and made eye contact with several of the club members. It was something I had learned from my short stint in my membership to Toastmasters.

I smiled. I placed my note cards on the podium and remembered to thank the organizer. It was a good thing that I wrote her name on the first card because I had no recollection of her name at the moment.

The club had asked me to speak to them about growing a membership. Somehow, that was the topic of the year in my speaking rounds.

The year before had been speeches about the epidemic of bullying. That was an uncomfortable, but necessary topic that needed to be exposed. I wasn't ready to let the subject go.

I began:

Tick tock,

the game is locked,

and nobody else can play.

Hooray!

and if they do

we'll take off our shoe,

and beat them till

they're black and blue.



The atmosphere in the room was so cold that I thought about breathing out to see if I could see my breath. I looked from one cold stare to the next.

"Yes, ladies, this was my first exposure to clubs. I learned this little rhyme by heart in the first month of first grade."

I scanned the room and saw some of the eyes soften. "Did you ever hear this when you were a kid?" I asked.

"Right off, I decided that I wasn't going to try to fit in to any of the clubs in first grade. That decision was made when one of my friends tried joining over and over.

"Every time she approached a group of girls, they joined hands and swung their arms back and forth saying the sing-song rhyme."

Someone nodded knowingly. "I secretly wished I belonged to a 'club' so I could say those words, too. Then, I didn't like myself too much for wanting to keep good little girls out of the little 'club'."

"Ladies, your club membership numbers are down because of this very thing. There are many of us who have been 'locked out' of clubs all of our lives."

Tears threatened my eyes and I felt a large lump form in my throat. I needed to tell something funny to lighten the mood. I couldn't allow myself to be this transparent.

I took out the pictures of my grandchildren that I carry with me for all my speeches. They were good for a laugh because they were not the normal poses of perfect smiling kids, but pictures of them in their more unflattering poses. The group seemed relieved to laugh when they saw the four of them frowning and pouting into the camera.

Good, the room warmed up some. The gravity of the message I had to bring to them drew me back. I had to be transparent.

"Tick tock the game is locked happens not only in grade school or organized men and women's clubs. It happens in churches and in neighborhoods and everywhere people gather together."

"It is a form of bullying, in my opinion, because it turns a person against themselves. They wonder why they aren't good enough to belong."

I thought of the many times I stood before the mirror and spoke to the reflection saying, "I don't belong."

"It can happen in families. Tick tock the family is locked and no one else can stay.. or fit in...or ...matter.

"Ladies, if you want your club to grow, open your arms. Don't lock them. Extend love and help. Think of ways to bless and your club will overflow. It won't be known as an 'exclusive club', but an inclusive one.

"Let's change the sing-song rhyme this time to say:



Tick tock

the game's not locked.

We need you to come and play.

If you do, you won't be blue

and we will help you find strength anew.



"You know, Jesus was locked out, too. There was no room for Him, either. If you have ever had 'tick tock' sung to you, I want you to realize that He understands.

"He has never sung that song to anyone. In fact, He says, Come unto Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Come and learn of Me."

I sat in the seat next to the organizer, Mrs. Whats her name, and she gave me a hug. "I was locked out of a lot of clubs in grade school and everywhere. You gave a talk that we needed to hear," she said.

After the minutes were read and the treasurer's report approved, the ladies filled small paper plates with cookies. Someone brought me a plate and some hot apple cider.

I could swallow again. I hadn't realized that my mouth had turned to cotton. One by one, they slipped up close and told me that they had experienced 'tick tock,'

I couldn't help but think, If we have all experienced being left out then, why oh why, do we leave other people out? Then, I remembered that I had wished that I could be one of the singers of the rhyme. God, forgive me!

Sanctuary

“Lord prepare me to be a Sanctuary,


Pure and holy,

Tried and true.

With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living

Sanctuary for You.”



I was singing this song with the congregation of my church during worship on Sunday morning. Most of the time when I sing this song, I think about my body being the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is Scriptural. I felt that there is more to this song than meets the eye so today, Monday, I got out the faithful dictionary and looked up the word ‘sanctuary’.



Sanctuary- a holy place, as a building set aside for worship. 2. A place of refuge or protection; asylum, shelter.



All right, what does this mean to me? I began to ask the Lord what this meant to me. I have rejoiced for many years that God, the one and only God, chooses to dwell in me. I am humbled by this observation. I enjoy sweet fellowship with the Lord as He honors me with His Presence.



I have come to realize that many people hunger for a place of refuge. They go here and there looking for peace and security. They meditate and try to find something within themselves to calm the storms brewing inside them. They look for a shelter and protection.



While Jesus is the Sanctuary, He has called us to be His hands extended. In this, we are to not only house the Lord in our heart, but to provide a safe place for those who are tossed about in the harshness of this present world. In being a peaceful, content, and sheltering person, we are examples of the love of God. We are not to set ourselves up as the answer. No, we are only a sample of what God can do with a life. If we are no different than the people who are unsettled and harassed by the world, why would they want what we have?



Letting Jesus portray Himself in our lives provides a safe place for those who are troubled to find the peace we have found in the Lord. We become a sanctuary filled with the Presence of God and showing people how they can also have the “peace that passes understanding”. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” I thank God for this provision in our lives.



Elaine Littau, author of Christian historical/western books

I Am Barabbas!

I am writing this post on Easter Sunday night. This morning our church had an East production about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Live actors gave their view of the event and between each actor a clip from The Passion of the Christ was shown.
One clip that really struck me differently than it had before, (I have seen the movie several times.) was the scene where Pilot asked the crowd who he should release...Barabbas or Jesus. The crowd chose Barabbas and demanded that Jesus be crucified.
When I heard this part of the story as a child, I remember thinking about how terrible Barabus was. This man was undeserving of his freedom while the Son of God was taken to the cross. Barabbas should have to die for the murders he committed.
This morning it struck me. I am Barabbas! My sin was just as bad as the sin of any other person. I am so grateful that the sinless Son of God took my place just like He did for Barabbas.
My son, Mikey phoned us today to tell us Happy Easter. I started telling him about this thought. He asked me to listen to a sermon he preached earlier this week. It was placed on facebook. The last sentence he says is, "I am Barabbas!" His points were strong and the thoughts were much like what hit me this morning. I felt so blessed.
This week I am interviewing Cheryl Morgan.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Cheryl Morgan, although I write under C A Morgan. The book is titled “2Friends 4Ever” A Journey to Reunion

2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
Probably that I suffer from a very rare auto immune disorder called retroperitoneal fibrosis and as a result, I’ve been totally disabled for the past 3 years.

3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
That’s a hard question. I’ve always played around with writing, but it took my disability for me to want to become a writer who might be able to earn money writing. Before my disability, I owned my own insurance agency and worked for other insurance companies. When I became disabled, I got so bored laying in bed every day, I had to find something to do. I discovered these note pads I’d been scribbling book ideas on over the years and decided “What the heck! You’ve got nothing to do. Why don’t you give it a shot”. As I began writing my first novel, I discovered how much I enjoyed it and I think that’s probably when I really decided to become a writer.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I think my strongest point is revealing the inner feelings and thoughts of my characters, really giving my readers a chance to know and understand them. I like writing about the dynamics of human relationships, not just romantic, but all relationships and how characters interact with each other based on those “What makes you tick” moments.
5. Are you a reader?
Avid. I think most writers are and I think out desire to read is what ultimately leads us to writing as well.
6. What are you reading right now?
Right now, I’m reading “Breakthrough” by Stephen Tremp, one of our First Time Authors Only members. I also have two other books written by members of the group waiting on my bed stand.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I just finished my 2 book, “A Journey to Redemption”. It’s the story of two brothers whose personalities are so different even though they were raised in the same abusive household. One of the brothers is a woman abuser who is really looking for love but has a hard time learning to be in a relationship with a woman where he has to give up control. The other brother is a homosexual during a period when being one wasn’t talked about as freely as it is today. The book looks at their relationship not just with each other, but with their families, wives, and children. It illustrates how two people can come out of the same environment but still see the world so differently. And, without giving it away, I really like the way I decided to end this book and I think the readers will too. I’m researching publishing options right now and hope it will be available by Summer 2010.

8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome it?
My biggest obstacle is quitting. I have the hardest time saying “The End”. When I think I’ve got the book finished, I’ll start proofing it and I find myself rewriting or changing things every time. Even when I gave my first book up to the publisher, I was not satisfied with it and if they would have given me more time for the proofing, I’d have taken it. I overcome it by setting myself a time limit when I start proofing, like “I’m sending this manuscript to the publisher in 2 months” whether I’m totally satisfied or not.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
“2Friends 4Ever: A Journey to Reunion” is a story of two 13 year old girls who somehow become friends when one of their mothers is killed by a drunk driver and the other girl’s alcoholic mother deserts the family. The book takes the two girls through a 40 year time period and shares how they support each other throughout the various stages of their lives. From dating to menopause, the book is separated into sections that concentrate on these stages and really takes a good look at how these different personalities look at their problems and how they depend on each other to solve those problems. It’s a wonderful read, particularly for those people who have that one friend they depend on for everything.

10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog .
My web site is www.c-a-morgan.com. And I do write a blog on the site which you can get to directly by typing in www.c-a-morgan.com/blog. I prefer people buy the book from my website because I get my books at a substantial discount from my publisher and so pass that savings on to my readers. It’s also available at amazon.com and bn.com, but the publisher has the retail price set too high. So if you go to www.c-a-morgan.com you can order and pay through PayPal and get the book for $20.00 rather than the $34.95 the websites are asking (unless they are having a sale, and even at that, the lowest I’ve seen it listed at is $24.95. If anyone wants to email me, they can do so at cheryl@c-a-morgan.com.

"The Mystery of the Alpha & Omega" by John H. Shumaker

One of the things that has always been a wish of mine when I have read books of biblical studies is that the Scriptures referred to would be written out in the text of the book. John Shumaker does this within the pages of "The Mystery of the Alpha & Omega". This was a pleasant surprise. Many selections of books of this genre are difficult and plodding. I found John's insights into the Scripture refreshing and acute as well as easily understood. The chapters are broken down into managable portions for reflection of the study. I appreciate that. The message of Jesus Christ's finger prints throughout the Scriptures, Old and New Testament is well documented as well as explained. Mr. Shumaker is indeed a good Bible teacher and it is reflected in "The Mystery of the Alpha & Omega".

Oh Death, Where is Your Sting?

Sunday, August 31st at 5:10 p.m. a dear friend and family member died. John was my brother-in-law. We enjoyed many times of laughter at family gatherings. He was the guy my sons looked for every time we had a family event. Uncle John teased and joked and was never at a loss for a good story to tell. He was the kind of guy that would find where your "goat" was tied and then "get your goat"! If John wasn't at a holiday dinner we all felt the void.

January of 2007 John had a near fatal heart attack. He told about his experience to everyone who came close to him. He was shy in front of people he didn't know, but after his heart attack he had boldness to tell even a church full of people about his experience. It still scared him but he had to declare the mercy of God. The last time we spoke he told me part of it again.

He said that his heart stopped beating. He found himself at a door and walked through it. On the other side of the door was a terrible desolate feeling. "Desolate" was the word and he could barely speak it. Tears sprang to his eyes as he told me. He felt panicked and alone. A force was drawing him deeper into this place and he knew there was more horrors beyond. He screamed, "Help me Jesus!" A hand grabbed him from behind and pulled him through the door. He was back in his hospital room. He began praying in his bed saying, "Lord, I don't deserve another chance."

He saw many things during his hospital stays. He saw an angel in the corner of the room and other things that comforted him. He felt bad because he waited so long to come to God. He probably told more people about Jesus in the last year and a half than many people do in a lifetime. He never forgot the mercy of God.

One of the things he stressed when he spoke publicly and privately was the "levels of prayer". He came to realize that every prayer prayed was not of the same intensity. The first level is surface. That would include prayers by rote. The second is prayers that are a little more personal, and the third level is fervent and urgent. John stressed that we need to be more serious and urgent when we pray. Those prayers are of utmost importance.

The last few months John was in a lot of pain. Now he is not. He is in the Presence of the One he found those months ago. The One who literally rescued him from the pit. He was a wonderful man and an example of all who have made the decision to follow Jesus. I want to fearlessly proclaim the gospel of Jesus like John did. He was an inspiration to me and we will all miss him.